Places to Eat in Estes Park
Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Estes Park is a charming town that serves as the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park. But beyond its breathtaking landscapes and outdoor adventures, Estes Park is also a culinary destination that offers a diverse array of dining options. From cozy cafes and gourmet restaurants to food trucks and local breweries, there's something to satisfy every palate. Whether you're craving hearty mountain fare, international cuisine, or fresh, farm-to-table dishes, you'll find it in Estes Park. Join us as we explore the best places to eat in this picturesque mountain town.
Claire's restaurant and bar
4.3
(3203)
Cozy spot offering classic American mains such as BBQ, burgers & trout, with a patio for park views.
Reviews:
Love the location. Were were visiting and stopped at the park and found Claire's by accident. We were seated promptly outside and tucked in the back so the view wasn't the greatest. Waitress started off well and met us shortly after we sat down. Ordered our food and drinks and received them quick quickly. Once the food was brought, we didn't see the waitress again for quite a while. Another gentleman had to get us some condiments that were forgotten and a member of our party had a side salad that was never received. We ordered 3 entrees. 2 of them were fantastic. One was not. I had the Prime Melt. My bun was super hard that it was not edible. There were no crispy onion straws on my sandwich either. Just ate the meat which was good but disappointing meal for me. We wanted another drink, so we had to ask another server since ours was MIA. She finally arrived back at our table once we were finished to give us our checks that were not correct. She fixed the problem quickly and we paid and left. I would love to come back and hope for a different waitress.
Tash
Splendid. The fontina was great. Steak was excellent too. Friend said the elk burger was good too. The tartar sauce for the fish and chips was 👌 Rocky mountain lemonade was refreshing. Super friendly staff and nice restaurant. Prices were reasonable (~$20 - $30) Would recommend 10/10
Miguel Cucaita
Claire's really is a great restaurant in a tourist town! The food is good, the service is excellent, and the prices are affordable. The portion sizes are large , so you will not leave hungry. I highly recommend!
Steven Smith
Colleen was a fabulous server! The food was delicious. Brussel sprout app was my favorite. Everyone enjoyed their food & service. We stayed for 4 days and it was the best meal out of all the restaurants we had in Estes Park. Highly recommend! Steak, burgers & fish were all amazing!
Dana Fishman
Great place to eat in Estes Park! Delicious food, everything we got was beyond our expectations. Fresh pasta, homemade pickles, great elk burger.
KimAnne H
225 Park Ln, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
Bird & jim
4.5
(2300)
Casual, rustic eatery offering locally sourced meats & produce, plus hearty mountain fare & wine.
Reviews:
We went in late August and this place was busy! We ended up snagging a table at the bar and we’re welcomed with lovely, warm energy. The bartender was so insightful and helpful. If I was visiting Estes again this would be #1 on my list. Some tips: -don’t sleep on the salad. I could literally drink that dressing. -sit at the bar - it’s more fun that way -try those elk sliders because why not -be nice and friendly -the bread pudding is the favorite -go at dusk and you might see some elk on the way (drive safe)
Logan Porter
Food was very good. Buffalo burger done well and tasty (but couldn't tell it wasn't cow). Trout was good, maybe a tad salty. Mushroom burger juicy and flavorful along with the potatoes fries. Bred pudding had a slight liquor flavor which was unique and good. Service was good. Serves were pretty attentive but not a 5. The atmosphere was nice, but just a tad loud for me.
Doug Schreiber
Stopped here after exploring Rocky Mountain Nation Park. I love the restaurants in Edtes Park, and this one did not disappoint. The burger was cooked to perfection, and the macaroni and cheese were really good!! Do not forget the sweet potato rounds!! I loved the artwork right I side the door. It was the first picture i shared! Hope you like it too!!
Mary Catherine Brady
Outside the busy town of Estes Park. A very casual vibe with eclectic cloth napkins, a million dollar view. Great food. We had a charcuterie board which had excellent smoked gouda and peppered salami. Lots of vegan choices. After day in the parks we were there for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon nearly three pm. It was nicely busy. We were there during happy hour and tried a lot of things. Hits: Short rib sliders were enough for a full meal. Veggie burger. They had coke on tap like civilized people. Great heavy silverware. Great service. Great decorating. The table water was stored in an antique refrigerator! I’m a fan!
Michael O'Connor
Bird and Jim offers the exact kind of experience I hope for when I’m traveling. They take local, sustainable ingredients and add their unique flare, resulting in a delicious culinary experience. We ordered the short rib sliders (do yourself a favor and put the pickled bits right on the sliders) fish and chips (don’t hesitate to ask for malt vinegar - they have it) the Mountain Jim burger and bread pudding…all were wonderful. Oh, and don’t forget to pop onto their website to read the story about Isabella Bird and Mountain Jim!
Brandie M
915 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
The egg of estes
4.6
(2510)
Family-friendly diner-style chain serving homestyle American breakfast & lunch standards.
Reviews:
Very yummy and great service! Cozy worn diner feel. Loved all the vegetarian options. My daughter got the cinnamon roll French toast, which was one of the best things we’ve ever tasted. I got the veggie Benedict and it had a generous amount of toppings and was tasty. Server was friendly and on top of everything. Appreciated that we could sub ranch potatoes for our sides.
Laura Rhea
This is by far the best breakfast place I have tried in Estes. Their food is scrumptious, very well seasoned, and with so much variety. I was a bit concerned at first because I have one kid who is such a picky eater but he absolutely loved everything he ordered. The staff is very nice and helpful, I thought we were going to have to wait a long time for a table because the place looked so busy and parking was a bit hard to find, but they are so quick to clean up tables and keep things moving efficiently. Again, parking is a bit of a pain if you want to park right on their parking lot, but there is public parking around and a couple of buildings down next to it if you don't mind walking, it's honestly super close, you might have to walk through a couple of parking lots max. We will definitely be back again next time we are in Estes. I can not say enough good things about this place. You MUST try it!
Nancy Ruiz-Calderón
Loved this restaurant! Very busy but the wait goes surprisingly fast! Food is great along with the service. No wonder it's rated number 1 on Trip Advisor. Went twice during our stay.
schirley post
Liked it... was very busy when we showed up on a Tuesday morning about 930 but it was only a 15 minute wait and they were right on the money calling our table 15 minutes later. Enjoyed the wide selection of omelet and skillet dishes that were available and I truly appreciated the pot of coffee that was left on the table for us to refill at our leisure. Looks like the crowd started to thin out about 10 10 30 we could walk in and get a table before that you're probably gonna wait.
Thomas P Kouyeas
Loved our food, our mimosas (they’re big!) sitting outside in the sunshine; and had great service! For someone who has several dietary restrictions, this restaurant did an amazing job accommodating and they had great options to do so. We especially loved the size of the mimosas & detail of the strawberry! Would highly recommend. We’ll be going back!
Whitney Loftesnes
393 E Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
The grubsteak restaurant
4
(2313)
Wild game, plus vegetarian options, are paired with microbrews at this family-friendly restaurant.
Reviews:
Nice place to stop in for a lunch. I had the Yak burger which was a first for me. The aroma was absolutely mouthwatering as it was delivered. The meat was great, and cooked medium it was flavorful without seeming too raw although I normally prefer well done. The fries were good enough to eat with nothing on them. With how good the rest was, the very basic bun was a let down.
Joe G
A very neat place! Friendly staff and food was good but could use a little more flavor. Kind of pricey but no big deal. I'd go back.
Kathleen Wahl
Very unimpressive place. It had great smells so we tried it out. If you looked beyond the parking lot...the mountains were beautiful. My husband's hamburger came out with the freezer paper. He ate part of it before he realized the paper was still on. We told the server, and his reply was "oh, opps". He didn't offer another one, he didn't offer anything. Food at best was okay. The Shrimp cigars...um, well, I advise don't order. Chili tasted old. We should have chosen the Irish pub!
Zina Osborne
We were seated right away and our order of drinks came quickly. When we got our food I requested more tea. It came after I'd already finished 1/2 my food. We ordered an elk burger, bison burger & a regular burger. 2 of them were the ones with guacamole, onion & jalapeño strings & ghost pepper aoili. Burgers were cooked correctly. Buns seemed a bit stale. I ordered my ghost pepper aoili on the side and they charged me $.80. Keep in mind this already was a topping for the burger, not an add on. The fries were OK. They came warm but not hot. Coleslaw was sour tasting.
April O
We sat on the patio and it had beautiful views. I was hesitant on this place based on other reviews, but man I was wrong. All of the food was amazing! Bloody Mary was perfect. I had the elk burger with Guac and Monterey Jack and it was delicious. My mom and boyfriend got the ribeye and it was great. We also got apps and I recommend the nachos, mozzarella sticks and the shrimp cigars. My moms steak was overcooked and the server was considerate and corrected the issue quickly. Will def be back next time I’m in Estes.
Melody Sanders
134 W Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
Poppy's pizza & grill
4.1
(2310)
Easygoing, riverfront pick for specialty pies, sandwiches & a large beer selection, plus a patio.
Reviews:
Located in beautiful Estes Park this restaurant has a perfect location. Outdoors seating here is next to the creek. Food is fresh and served cheerfully! Simple exchange on Club wrap to Club Sandwich on Sourdough buns was done. One can order Pizza without Crust! Our friends loved it! We enjoyed being there.
Ravi Govil
Stopped here right when we arrived in Estes. I ordered a burger and the homemade onion rings. The burger was so tasty and good. You can dine inside or outside on the patio that sits close to the river. Great service and food. I will definitely go back!
Kimber K
My first experience here a few years ago I wouldn’t have rated it this high. But since then they have changed. Let’s first start with the salad, this was a half portion but had plenty of toppings and the balsamic dressing topped it off perfectly, I also got the flat bread with no Asiago (I’m vegan) the artichokes on the salad and bread were so yummy. The pizza had so many toppings on it and was the perfect size for me, since they changed they now have vegan cheese! Wow I want to go back today to get this pizza again!
CJ (based3)
Poppy’s is an great pizza place in Estes Park… location downtown is great by the River… they have inside and outside dining.. I got my order to go… great customer service and the food was hot and fresh… definitely a hidden gem… if your in the area check them out…
Cindy Brown
Service was slow. Waited a while for our server to come to the table. Although the food was good, I felt over charged for soda. $3.75 per glass is ludicrous.
Joshua Lenz
342 E Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
Smokin' dave's bbq - estes park
4.6
(3776)
Reviews:
A cozy restaurant and with a classic southern bar feel and options to choose from. The prices are unbeatable for what they offer. We had a fish burger and the triple meat plate. The meats are okay, but they give you a great deal for being able to have three different cuts, along with sides. The bartender at the front was extremely attentive and fun to listen to. We ended with a great fudge brownie with ice cream for dessert. Great portions and prices, and a nice overall experience for the night.
Brandon Le
Great bbq. Nice story about the owners on the menu. Has authentic bison ribs! Amazing. Also the best onion rings in the world. One order was too much for four. Brisket nachos were good. Baked Beans are amazing. Great 80’s music. Decorating was cool as well. It was a family friendly place I’d recommend. Very reasonably priced. Near the Rocky Mountains National park entrance.
Michael O'Connor
We got to the restaurant before the the dinner rush, it's was great not having to wait. We ordered two appetizers, the highly recommended Bubba Que wings (smoked) and deep fried pickles. The wings were good but didn't get to try the pickle. Family said it was delish. My entree I got the pulled pork sandwich, I wish there was more meat in the sandwich because the bread was thick compared to the meat portion, just wasn't enough. Green bean was good, tender and crunchy. I also ordered an extra side of sweet potatoes fries. These were so good, the cut and the right amount of fry time made the fries not over fried and soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Service was good.
P Hok
Conveniently located near Rocky Mountain National Park. Our family of four ordered the Not So Teeny Wahine. It was a good deal, considering the amount of meat on the platter, plus sides and cornbread. Everything was tender and flavourful. Our only criticism is that the food was a little too sweet, particularly the side of baked beans, which was far too sugary. Regardless, we had a tasty meal before heading off to see the Rockies.
Nicole Chu
We came from Texas and thought pull pork is just ok, rib is better. However the atmosphere is great and we like the cocktails here because it was not so strong. No reservation available and informed of one hour waiting but you won’t wait as much as you thought.
Liane Liou
820 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA
Penelope's old time burgers
4.3
(2619)
Retro spot for burgers, including buffalo & elk patties, hand-cut fries & flavored sodas.
Reviews:
I enjoyed the fresh thick cut sweet potato fries. The burger was a bit greasier then I prefer. I liked that this place had an old time feel and felt homey and had lots of cute decor and was a nice local spot. I enjoyed the decorations and the fries. I liked that they had over 8 different types of condiments and lots of variety of choices on the menu including game meats.
Lexi C
I had the elk burger and onion rings. Overall a good quality burger. Great tasting, but not over the top. Onion rings were very good. Crispy with a hint of sweet onion. Two of us had the elk burger, onion rings and drink. It came to $49.31. The burger and onion rings were reasonably priced. But almost $8 for 2 regular sodas was too much. The staff was very friendly and pleasant. Atmosphere was done well. We sat at the window seats to watch the world go by as we ate.
Ernie Cox
Had to try this place based on all the Google Reviews. The Burgers were tasty and good size and they brought our food out fairly quickly. The grilled sandwiches looked great from what we could see and would try them next time. Wasn't a fan of the onion rings. The outside breading crumbled when you ate it, definitely not homemade. The fresh cut fries were good. It was kinda pricey for just a quick lunch.
Randy Thompson
This place is very unassuming from the outside but has a lot of space inside. The decor is great with a heavy dose of Coca Cola themed items for decorations. However, the real treat is the food!!! I would highly recommend to try the elk burger. It is juicy but not too juicy and not at all dry. The elk burger is seasoned to perfection and needs no condiments and I think they condiments would have taken away from the superb flavor! Pairs this with the Parmesan fries and man what a meal! I shared the 2/3 double burger and it was the perfect about to leave us both satisfied. A special shout out to Owen who was a great host in the dining area. He was attentive and anticipated a need upon arrival without us asking. A happy and pleasant young man that added to our dining experience.
Mark Hayes
Stopped by while visiting the town. Prices were high, but that seemed to be the norm for that area. Food wasn't bad. I'll probably eat there again if, in the area. The French fries were overdone. Borderline burnt, but that was for only a few of us. Overall, I've had better, and I've had worse.
James Serna
229 W Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, USA